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Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
From Austria to U.S., from tight end to tackle; Colts' Bernhard Raimann is a $100 million left tackle
$60 million of Bernhard Raimann's new 4-year, $100-million contract is guaranteed Bernhard Raimann: 'I've always believed in myself. But I don't think I've ever thought it all the way through (financially), to be honest.' Raimann told his agent he wanted to be a Colt and he wouldn't holdout during negotiating WESTFIELD, Ind. — Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann has always known where he wanted to get in his career. But he never thought about the implications. Not until Monday. Raimann signed a four-year contract extension on Monday worth $60 million guaranteed and up to $100 million overall, numbers that never seriously crossed his mind as he made his way from Austria to the United States, from high school football to Central Michigan, from tight end to tackle and finally from a raw prospect to one of the NFL's highest-paid offensive linemen. The big left tackle got to this point by staying focused on the task in front of him. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. 'I've always believed in myself,' Raimann said. 'But I don't think I've ever thought it all the way through, to be honest.' Raimann has always had big goals. But those goals were more about the football than the financial. 'The goal was always to be the best tackle in the league,' Raimann said. 'No doubt about it.' Raimann's work ethic was a big reason why Indianapolis drafted him. An even bigger reason why the Colts were comfortable handing him a contract that ties him for the sixth-biggest deal given to a tackle by average annual value. The first time Indianapolis offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. met Raimann, it was in the facility in the middle of winter. The dead part of the offseason, the days when a lot of NFL players are on vacation, resting their bodies in preparation for the work ahead. Raimann emerged from the Colts' indoor facility drenched in sweat, exhausted from putting himself through the paces. A lot of players talk about the importance of making daily improvements on their own; Raimann has put it into practice. When Central Michigan asked Raimann to switch from tight end to left tackle after his sophomore year of college, the world was shut down as a result of COVID-19. Raimann essentially had to learn the position on his own, and he laid the foundation to become a third-round pick. Raimann has never lost that devotion to his craft. 'The way he goes about his business and works to improve (stands out),' offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. 'He's done such a nice job of representing himself and representing what we want this program to be.' Handing a major contract to a player with that kind of work ethic is always a little easier ... even if this negotiation had its challenges. Raimann's agent, Chase Callahan, and the Colts talked about the left tackle's contract extension throughout the offseason. For a long time, the two sides were not close on the numbers; Raimann opened training camp by telling Jake Query of 107.5 The Fan's 'Query and Company" that the two sides weren't on the same page. Despite the comment, Raimann had tried not to think about it. He'd given his agents two requirements for his next contract. No. 1, Raimann wanted to be a Colt. He did not want to test free agency. No. 2, Raimann wanted to keep practicing. A holdout was never a possibility. When training camp opened without a new deal — NFL teams typically offer extensions to their best young players after their third season, when an extension is possible and a year remains before they hit free agency — Raimann tried to focus solely on football. 'You think about it,' Raimann said. 'You know you want to be here, you know you want the security for your family, but at the same time, you have a season to focus on.' Outside of his radio interview last week, when Raimann was asked a direct question about his contract negotiations, he had tried to keep his thoughts to himself. 'I tried to stay out of it as much as I could,' Raimann said. In reality, a deal was likely always on the way. Under general manager Chris Ballard, the Colts have almost always locked up their extension candidates before the final year of their contract began, even if it meant taking it all the way down to the wire — All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson agreed to his big-money deal the night before the 2022 season opener. Ballard has also always prioritized his offensive line, and after two years of uneven play at left tackle following Anthony Castonzo's retirement, the Colts know exactly how important the left tackle position is to a team. Beyond the quarterback, there is arguably no offensive position more important than the man who protects the blind side. A great left tackle presents an enormous problem for opposing defenses, who have to decide whether or not to sacrifice their best rusher at the altar of trying to get to the quarterback's back. 'It's kind of like running into a brick wall,' defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. 'Do you want to do that all day? It makes you think, take it to the next level setting up your rushes and your blitz packages to stay away from that guy.' Raimann is still developing. But he has improved by leaps and bounds every season. Raimann gave up nine sacks in 11 games as a rookie, seven in 15 starts in 2023 and just four in 14 starts a year ago. The way he's worked on his own, Raimann might be on the cusp of putting himself in discussion among the game's best offensive tackles if he can take another leap. And that made him a high-priced commodity, handing him the sort of contract that never crossed his mind when he was focused on reaching the next step. Raimann signed his deal on Monday, then headed right into practice on Tuesday, supported by the celebration of the team at the news he'd been given an extension. 'Honestly, I haven't even had much time to sit down and realize it,' Raimann said. 'It all seems a little bit like a dream right now.' Indianapolis has an off day on Wednesday, giving Raimann a chance to sit down with his wife and take it all in Tuesday night. To realize just how far he's come.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Could Tyler Smith be the next Cowboy to receive a contract extension?
Micah Parsons has gotten all the publicity for his hold-in at Cowboys' training camp, but the team has other contracts it has and is working on extending, executive vice president Stephen Jones said Sunday. Tight end Jake Ferguson received his contract extension earlier this week, and left guard Tyler Smith could be next. Smith's agent, Joe Panos, was in Onxard, California, on Monday, Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan reports. In previous years, Panos has reached deals for Cowboys offensive linemen Tyron Smith and La'el Collins while attending camp. Smith, a two-time Pro Bowler, has become the leader of the offensive line after the offseason retirement of right guard Zack Martin. The Cowboys exercised Smith's fifth-year option for 2026, but Smith became eligible for an extension after the 2024 season. Chiefs guard Trey Smith reset the market for guards this offseason, signing a four-year, $94 million extension.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NHL Fans Urged to 'Keep A Close Eye' On Sidney Crosby's Future
NHL Fans Urged to 'Keep A Close Eye' On Sidney Crosby's Future originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby isn't likely to be traded this summer, but the door to a future move is very much open. According to Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos, writing in his updated Trade Board 3.0 and speaking on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, Kypreos acknowledged that Crosby hasn't yet landed on his Penguins trade watch list, but urged fans and insiders to 'keep a close eye' on the situation in Pittsburgh. "One that doesn't make it here (yet) that we should keep a close eye on is — dare I say it — Sidney Crosby," Kypreos wrote about Crosby's absence from his trade list. The longtime Penguins captain remains one of the NHL's most productive players at age 37, and is coming off a 91-point season, appearing in 80 regular-season games. Pittsburgh missed the playoffs for a third straight year and finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division, leading to speculation about how interested Crosby might be in spending the remainder of his career with the non-contending Penguins. "There is plenty going on behind the scenes with the Penguins, now in a major rebuild and a reported potential change in ownership on the horizon," Kypreos wrote. "The Fenway Group remains adamant that their intent is to find a minority investor to move forward, but could they entertain selling the team entirely? And how would those decisions impact Crosby's future with the team? A question that big will take time to answer." Crosby is under contract for two more seasons after signing a three-year deal at the start of last season worth a total $17.4 million. He carries a $8.7 million annual cap hit. Kypreos noted that with the Penguins fully in rebuild mode and Crosby still playing at a high level, a trade could materialize after the 2026 Winter Olympics. '(Crosby) is too good right now to just be a babysitter for the next three years,' Kypreos said. 'It will be such a disservice to the history of our game if we watch him stay in Pittsburgh the next three or four years.' The insider pointed to the Montreal Canadiens as a team to watch come late February and the end of the Olympics, as well as the NHL's next trade deadline, expected to land on early March. 'Wait till they get Sid Crosby after the Olympics,' Kypreos said, referring to the Montreal Canadiens. "I'm liking the odds a little better than I did maybe a few weeks ago." This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL Trade Rumors: Bowen Byram could walk away from Buffalo Sabres as insane $9 million offer looms
NHL Trade Rumors: Bowen Byram could walk away from Buffalo Sabres as insane $9 million offer looms (Image via Getty) A young NHL defenseman may be on the move this summer. Buffalo Sabres' restricted free agent Bowen Byram is making headlines as insiders discuss the possibility of him receiving a big offer from another team. The price could be very high, and some experts say it might be too much for the Sabres to match. Could Byram really leave Buffalo after just one season? Bowen Byram could receive big offer from another NHL team this summer On July 1, 2025, NHL insiders Elliotte Friedman and Nick Kypreos discussed Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram during a segment on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. They talked about the growing possibility of Byram receiving an offer sheet from another team. Bowen Byram is a restricted free agent, meaning another team can offer him a contract, but the Sabres can match it or receive compensation in return. Kypreos said Byram could get up to $10 million per year on the open market. Friedman agreed and compared Byram's value to Ivan Provorov, who signed a $59.5 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Friedman also shared that he heard teams were thinking about making a one-year offer sheet for Byram. That would force the Sabres to either match the offer or lose him. Buffalo Sabres may not match a high offer and could choose to trade Bowen Byram If a team offers Byram a contract worth $9 million or more per season, and the Sabres don't match it, Buffalo would receive a first, second, and third-round pick in return. However, insiders believe this may not help Buffalo right now. The team wants to win now, not wait for future draft picks. Friedman and Kypreos both said the Sabres may prefer trading Byram instead of letting him go through an offer sheet. This would allow them to get better players back in return. The situation is like what happened in 2019 when Sebastian Aho signed an offer sheet with Montreal, but the Carolina Hurricanes matched it quickly. Bowen Byram signed a two-year $7.7 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche before being traded to Buffalo earlier this year in the Casey Mittelstadt deal. He's still only 23 years old, but already seen as a top young defender. Also Read: 'We Judge Women Very Harshly': Jane Macdougall Exposes Lasting Damage From Fake NHL Affair Rumor With Kirk McLean As of now, no team has officially submitted an offer sheet. But if someone does, the Buffalo Sabres will have to make a fast and difficult decision. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Newsweek
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Braves General Manager Sends Definitive Final Word on Chris Sale Trade Rumors
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. "Will. Not. Happen. Bold, italicize it, caps." Those were the words of Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos on the radio ahead of the team's win against the Mets on Wednesday when the rumors were brought up about the organization trading Chris Sale. Sale would certainly be a hot commodity, but Anthopoulos made it very clear the southpaw wouldn't be dealt away despite the team being several games under .500 this season. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 18: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves reacts during the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Truist Park on June 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 18: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves reacts during the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Truist Park on June 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia."Zero (chance)," Anthopoulos said on 680 "The Fan". "I've seen the speculation and that's why -- it's completely ridiculous to me. We're not selling, especially someone that has club control beyond the current year. Will not happen." Sale has recorded a 2.52 ERA this season for the Braves through his first 15 starts. Even at 36 years old, he's one of the best pitchers in the game and gives his team a chance to win every time he takes the mound. Anthopoulos doubled down and even gave Braves fans some insight into what may happen in the near future. "I never make definitive statements unless I'm going to stick to them," said Anthopoulos. "Because once you make definitive statements and then you go back on them, you're a liar and you're done. ... Will. Not. Happen. Bold, italicize it, caps. So much so, that I'm trying to make a trade now in June just to signal to everybody, 'Hey, we will not sell.'" It's not very often you see a general manager go as far as telling the fanbase they'll add someone to silence rumors about the team's ace being traded away. However, it's safe to say at this point any teams that got excited about Sale potentially being on the market need to go back to the drawing board and find a new deadline target. More MLB: Aaron Boone Gives Two-Word Answer on Closer Situation as Luke Weaver Returns
